Incident involving SWAT in North Central leads to charges

Regina police confirm Joseph Etienne Poitras, 35, is facing a number of charges including unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a loaded or restricted firearm.

On Tuesday around 12:30 p.m., police received a call indicating a man had entered a house on the 1000 block of Retallack Street carrying a firearm. Officers then set up a perimeter around the residence.

Police said initially three people exited the house and were briefly taken into custody.

Just before 3 p.m., Police Crisis Negotiators were able to get a female out of the residence leaving one man inside.

Police said the man was refusing to exit and threatening to hurt himself and police. He surrendered to police just before the SWAT team arrived on scene.

A Canine Team was used in the arrest when the suspect refused police commands and tried to get into a nearby vehicle. The man was then taken into custody and transported to hospital for treatment of his injury.

Police said a search of the house found a sawed-off .22 calibre rifle and ammunition.